Nelson



@bitch gisten garrot @ffice Laim. Patent No. 74,934, ma nitraat-f 25 185s'.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE IIAYeEOR'KS.

@its tlghirle referat tu in tiges gttttrts ntut mit mating gaat tf tige same.

vIO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Beit known that I, :NELSON` PALMER., 4oilAlbany, inthe county of Albany, and Stateof New York', have invented new and.useful Improvements in Horse "Hay-Forks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and complete description ofthe construction land operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in whichl Figure 1 is a perspective view, with the tincs elevated and held in'place by the catch.

Figure 2 is a view with thewatch released; and Y Figure 3 is a sectional view.

Like letters refer toV like parts in the rseveral views.

The tines a are slightly curved and parallel from the joints backward to the bolts b, whore the prolonga tions ofthe tines a become braces,'c. The two outside braces ,c converge at the top, and areconnected with the handle 7L, and, passing above the arc of a circle described by thehandle z, become the elevated points of fastening for the catch. The inside braces c are bolted iruily to the under partei' theoutside bracesc, insuch manner as to make the spaces m between Vthe tines equal. The handle from the point of contact with the braces c, forms the, arc of acirclc, equal in length to theradius of said circle, having the bolt b at the lower extremity ofthe outside brace c as its centre. From the top4 the handle t is parted a suiiicient length to allow the proper action of the catch. At arpointncar the lower and outer end ofthe handle L are bolted to it braces a, which extend forward and diverge so, that they severally come in contact with the lower extremity ofthe braces vaat theirjunction with the'base of the tines a, I'and are fastened by the bolts Z1 firmly together at that point. At the same point, on the outside, are hinged the lower extremities of' thc bail e, which, curving'in conformity with the braces c, converge at the top of the lhandle i, and extend upward' parallel to each other a suiiicient distanceapartto allow the handle la to move freely between them. Theheight of the bail e is equal to the length o'f thetines Between theparallel sides c of the bail is placed a roller, z', at such a point near the handle It asto allow the bail e to move freely along the handle t without 4bringing theroller z' in contact with it, except at the top. There it is made to lit into a ooncavity in the baclcdges of the elevated Ijoints n, the front edges being convexior rounded. Bet\veen `these joints n is placed a catch, g, hinging on a bolt,'. This catch, g,`is of peculiar construction. It is so curved as, when drawn by the cord l, to pass between the open' parts ofthe handle L, and to protrude above the upper edges so far and-in such manner that when' the bail e is assin into osition the roller z' forces the catch down until the bail e, lia-viniT reached its u )rio-,ht osition P g P n l a P i and the roller z' its concave limit, the catch g isV compelled to lock over the roller z' and sustain the forlc in ai. working attitude, the location of the hinging'bolt above the roller z' contributing to this result.V By making that part of the catchy working oveiythe rollcrz'broad, asshown in the drawings, the strain on the centre of the roller z' is diminished, and the greater durability of both secured. .The construction of the roller z'is unique, and serves the double purpose to support thebail e and diminish friction of the catch g. To accomplish this there is an inside tube or sleeve, next to the bolt 6', a little longer than the outside roller z`. Against the ends of this` sleeve the sides e of `the bail nrc iirrnly pressed by the bolt so that the bail c is secured againstcontracting whenheavily strained, and the anti-`riction roller allowed to work freely under all circumstances. Inr the top of the bail c is a loop,f, to which the power is applied, and at the lower extremity ofthe handle L the loop c is for convenience in operating the-fork.` Y v This fork is designed to combine capacity, coi'npnctness, simplicity, strength, elcicncy, and dura-bility. V

By the proximate coincidence ofthe braces c and e and Z and d', and the absenc'cof any crossbar, :its capacity is increased by allowing the tines a and a' to be pressed further into thc hay. 'Freni the construction and rela tion of the braces c and c and d and d', the bail e, and the handle L, it is adapted to work through small spaces or openings, and among beams, without the usual liability to be obstructed by them.`

What I claim as my invention, and-desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the tinesa and a', the braces d and d', and the handle la, when constructed and arranged substantially as 4and for the purpose s'ct forth.

2. The combination of the -tines a and a and braces @and d', thc handle L, the catch g, and` the-rollers', when constructed and arranged substantially asiand for the purpose set forth.

3. I claim the catch g, constructed and pivoted as described, so aste be locked by the action of the roller against the catch g, below its pivot, substantially as described. l l

4. I claim the roller z', constructed as described, in combination with a catch, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.v I a N. PALMER.

Witnesses: f

D. P. HoLLowAY, WM. H. Barns. 

